15 May 2010

Rachel Gough, 21, from Brewood, Staffordshire, headed to Badminton Horse Trials, the world’s premier 3-day event, for the first time this year with her long time equine partner, Bow House Mandalin.  The pair have worked their way up from novice level together but it has not been an easy ride.   The 12 year old mare, known as Tomi at home, has always been difficult to manage and, when her tummy gets upset, she stops eating and loses weight.  This was a problem for Rachel because she was not able to feed her as she wanted to so it became a vicious circle. 

Tomi was on prescription product that became prohibitively expensive until Rachel found U7 Gastric Supplement from American Thoroughbred Products.  Using U7, Tomi’s tummy has stayed settled, so Rachel can feed her as she wants to and has been able to keep weight on and maintain energy levels without getting fizzy.  “She actually gets broodmare feed, which she seems to like.  She is a very fussy feeder and worries if I put anything new in the feed, but that is another thing about U7, I just squirt the liquid onto her feed and she is quite happy to eat it”, explained Rachel.  “At the horse inspection the vets commented on how well Tomi looked, which was very nice to hear”. 

Badminton did not quite go according to plan for Rachel and Tomi, ending in a fall at the Hexagon Hedge, but a disappointed Rachel was philosophical.  After the event she said, “Tomi looked fantastic and I had numerous compliments about how well she looked from the vets the minute we arrived to the yard manager when I arrived back home! I can honestly say that in the 6years I've had her she's never eaten so well, looked so good or been as happy in herself as she has these last 6months on U7. 
 
  
“With Tomi falling XC I clearly didn't have the result I was hoping for but I was having a great ride to that point (which was about 2/3 of the way round) and she was making it all feel very easy so I can't be too disappointed. It was just one of those unfortunate, unlucky things that happens with horses but I'm very happy to say that we are both absolutely fine and will be back for another day. It was a fantastic achievement to get there and a thoroughly enjoyable experience.
“Tomi is now enjoying a much deserved holiday in the field for a few weeks and will then come back into work for more dressage training, with the next aim being a return to Burghley 4* in September”. 
We wish Rachel and Tomi the very best of luck for Burghley.

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RACHEL GOUGH KEEPS US POSTED WITH TOMI'S PROGRESS ON U7

April 2010

Tomi is going very well and looking great. We are now accepted at Badminton and leave a week today. We are all very excited and have Tomi wrapped in cotton wool so fingers crossed all will be well.

March 2010

I'm now back from my Portugal adventure (photo attached) and wanted to give you an update. Tomi coped amazingly well with the 4000km journey and kept eating and looking well throughout. She behaved well in the 2* but was a little over excitable in the 3* dressage!! Nevertheless she jumped well and is feeling fit and ready to start the British season. She has a couple of advanced runs planned and then Badminton!! I continue to receive compliments about how good she looks and am still thrilled with the product - ulcers seem to be a thing of the past for Tomi!

Best wishes,
Rachel

January 2010
We are delighted with how Tomi is responding to the U7. She looks and is going very well and we can't quite get over how happy and relaxed she is despite getting very fit now! We have been out doing British Dressage and although this isn't her strongest phase her tests are improving now that she is being more sensible in her brain!! We leave for Portugal on the 25th of this month so are very busy at the moment trying to fit in all the training and fitness work that needs to be done. I'm really looking forward to getting started with the season now. In the next few days I'll be sending off my Badminton entry which is very exciting!
I have almost run out of U7 so if you could send me another bottle that would be great!
Hopefully the next time I email I'll have good news of our Portugal trip!
Best wishes,
Rachel

November 2009
Here is a photo of Tomi (Bow House Mandalin) at Burghley last year (2009) where she came 26th.
I've had Tomi since she was 6 and had struggled with her temperament and with keeping weight on her. When she was about 8 the vet diagnosed gastric ulcers and she had a course of treatment from them and we saw dramatic improvement. Since then, trying to prevent the ulcers getting to that stage again, we have tried various other products on the market with little success (she's such a fussy eater!!). I saw the advert for your product in the BE magazine and was very keen to try it. Since she's been on it she has been eating incredibly well and maintained her weight and a level-head even during the mamouth journey to compete in Italy last month!! (October 2009) She's looks fantastic and I am really looking forward to getting cracking with our winter programme.
The plan for her for next season is to go to Portugal in March to do a 3* and then, a couple of events over here before, all being well, Badminton in May. I'll keep you updated on her progress.
Rachel Gough

Feb 2009
CELTIC SOCIETY HAS 4 WINS ON ACTIMUNE

Ryan Bliss and Celtic Society win the Open Maiden at the East Devon Point to Point, 28 February 2009

Tim Holt Photography

 Ryan Bliss and Celtic Society have enjoyed a brilliant season, notching up 4 wins and 2 places from 6 starts, particularly after the problems Celtic Society had encountered at the beginning of the season.  Point to point trainer, Louise Rycroft, turned to Actimune when the horse was slow to recover from infection.  

"After weeks on antibiotics to clear up a lingering bacterial infection, it occured to us to put Celtic Society on Actimune.  He soon become visibly healthier, won first time out and finished the season having won four races and was placed twice from 6 starts in 2009.  I certainly think that Actimune played a large role in his consistent well-being", says Louise.   

Celtic Society is owned and ridden by Ryan Bliss.

Barney Blue
Photo by Brian Armstrong

Barney Blue had a chequered history having not performed well for previous trainers.  But his luck changed when John Dufossee spotted his talent and took him on.  Barney Blue had won a couple of point to points, but he was just not finishing his races and had a rather poor attitude towards his racing.  John suspected he had some pulmonary difficulty - he looked as though he would win, but never did.  John takes up the story.  "We tried Hemo-Stop and since feeding it, he has won 4 times and is the leading point to pointer in the Blackmore Vale for the 2007/2008 season". 
John also comments about using JC's X-Tie Up. "From our experience in training fillies and mares, some of them seem to experience restricted muscle function to varying degrees, particularly in spring time.  One 5 yo mare that we had in this season appeared particularly restricted in her movement, even on the walker, which made it very difficult to get her to do any work.  We gave JC's X-Tie Up a go and after 24 hours, there was a noticeable difference and within 2 days she was back on the gallops and had resumed her normal training programme.  She went on to be placed in point to points during the past season.  We have tried JC's X-Tie Up on several other mares and fillies and have been impressed with the results.  I will definately use JC's X-Tie Up as part of our regime for fillies and mares in this situation". 

Christmas 2004 was a worrying time for owner, Sandra Martin, and her rider, Richard Jones as the horse for which they had great hopes developed strangles.  The condition cleared up and Incan Winter continued with his training regime and went eventing that summer.  He had a mixed season;  his stamina was just not good enough and no matter how hard they tried, they could not get him really fit.  Sandra had read an advert for Actimune and decided to give it a go.  The next season everything improved.  He was fitter and his stamina had improved and it showed in his results, finishing 5^th in his first 2* event in 2006.  He continued to go from strength to strength, completing a 3* event in Italy, Compiegne in France, and finishing 16^th at Bramham in 2007, qualifying for the Festival of British Eventing at Intermediate.  “I give a lot of the credit for this to Actimune, and my rider, Richard Jones, who does a great job, agrees.  I am definitely not going to take him off it”, said Sandra, who bred the horse from her own TB x Connemara mare.  “Instead of worrying about him, we now enjoy him, which is what it is all about.  Next season we will aim him at a 4* event, perhaps Burghley.  I would recommend Actimune to anyone”, she says. 

As the UK’s National Hunt season gains momentum, it is unusual for the reining Champion Trainer’s head groom to be looking forward to a holiday.  But Clifford Baker and his wife, Sarah, are about to embark on a trip to the Colonial Cup at Camden, South Carolina, America’s most prestigious jump meeting, where they will enjoy Grandstand seats and hospitality for the race on 19^th November 2006.

The trip is the result of Kicks For Free, trained by Champion Trainer, Paul Nicholls, winning the Actimune US-Bred Championship at Wincanton Racecourse last season.  The Championship is designed to reward hard working stable staff and, as the trainer of the winning horse, Nicholls was required to nominate a deserving member of staff to take the prize trip.  Head Groom, Clifford Baker was his obvious choice. 

The Actimune US-Bred Championship, sponsored by Wiltshire based American Thoroughbred Products Ltd, is a points based competition for US-bred horses that ran at Wincanton racecourse during the 2005/2006 national hunt season.  There was a good showing of eligible horses with an American bred sire or dam at every Wincanton meeting, with a total of 90 horses accumulating points in the championship and 29 horses winning races during the season.

Paul Nicholls said, “Any sponsorship is good for racing and especially good when it gives an incentive for stable staff.  And if there is a title up for grabs we will have a go for it.   It will be nice for Clifford to do this.  He is the one who does all the work at home when the others get days out”.

Clifford went straight into racing when he left school at 16 years old, and after 19 years with top jumps trainer, David Nicholson, he joined Paul Nicholls at Ditcheat, where he has spent the last 10 years running the yard as Head Groom.  “It is lovely to have a break at this of year when we would not normally be able to get away.  We are really looking forward to it and it will be interesting to see jump racing in America”, said Clifford. 

Throughout the National Hunt season from September to April it is normal for him to work 7 days a week from 6am to 6pm doing the job that he clearly loves.  Clifford and Sarah have 3 children, Danielle, Dominic and Charlotte, and Sarah also works for Nicholls looking after his 2 children.  “It will be the longest we have been away from our youngest daughter, Charlotte, who is only 3 years old, and I know Clifford will fret about leaving the horses, but neither of us have been to America before and we are both really excited about it”, Sarah said.

 Event rider, Georgia Bale, has a string of horses for the current season, all doing well on Actimune.  Georgia first experienced the benefits of feeding Actimune when her horses were suffering from a virus back in August 2004.  “We picked up a virus and it went round the whole yard.  The horses received veterinary treatment but we could not get the bloods right.  By February 2005 the event season was looming and I was desperate to get the horses right.  Actimune was recommended by a friend and so I bought some and noticed an improvement within 10 days.  Their bloods came right and the horses went well all season, staying virus free”, says Georgia, who now keeps her horses on Actimune.

Roger Bass & Tenderfield Black Shadow

Roger Bass has produced champion Hackney horses over many years, including Tenderfield Black Shadow, winner of the Xerox Harness Horse of the Year at HOYS 2002.  Roger has tried a wide range of joint supplements over the years and is satisfied that GLC5500 produces the best results. 

“I have now been feeding GLC5500 since September 2002 and I am confident that it is the best available.  I feed it to all my horses – they are performing to their maximum ability and by feeding GLC5500 we ensure that their flexibility and overall joint performance is as good as it can be”, he says.

 
Kicks for Free wins at Wincanton


Paul Nicholls, Clifford and Sarah
Baker receive the Actimune Championship prize from Mr and 
Mrs Graham Cotton


Clifford and Sarah with Mr Graham Cotton, MD of American
Thoroughbred Products Ltd

The promising 5-y-o, Kicks For Free, has claimed the Wincanton Actimune US-Bred Championship for trainer, Paul Nicholls after a tiebreak.  Kicks For Free, by Flemensfirth (USA) out of Keep The Change (IRE), tied with Lord Anner and The Luder with two wins each at the end of the 2005/2006 season.  As the trainer of all three of the top horses, Nicholls was assured of the title but the highest aggregate winning distance gave Kicks For Free the advantage.

The Actimune US-Bred Championship, sponsored by Wiltshire based American Thoroughbred Products Ltd, is a points based competition for US-bred horses that ran at Wincanton racecourse during the 2005/2006 national hunt season.  Since the start of the season there has been a good showing of eligible horses with an American bred sire or dam at every Wincanton meeting.  A total of 90 horses accumulated points towards the Championship during the season and 29 horses have won races.

The Championship is designed to reward hard working stable staff and, as the trainer of the horse with the most points, Paul Nicholls has nominated his head lad, Clifford Baker as the deserving employee to take the prize.  Clifford and his wife, Sarah, will take a trip for two people to the Colonial Cup at Camden, South Carolina, America’s most prestigious jump meeting, where they will enjoy Grandstand seats and hospitality for the race on 19^th November 2006.

Paul Nicholls said, “Any sponsorship is good for racing and especially good when it gives an incentive for stable staff.  And if there is a title up for grabs we will have a go for it.   It will be nice for Clifford to do this.  He is the one who does all the work at home when the others get days out”.

Clifford, who has been Head Lad for Nicholls for 10 years, said, “It will be lovely to have a break at that time of year when we would not normally be able to get away.  We are really looking forward to it and it will be interesting to see jump racing in America”.  Throughout the National Hunt season from September to April it is normal for him to work 7 days a week from 6am to 6pm doing the job that he clearly loves.  Clifford and Sarah have 3 children, and Sarah also works for Nicholls looking after his 2 children.  “It will be the longest we have been away from our youngest daughter, Charlotte, who is only 3 years old, and I know Clifford will fret about leaving the horses, but neither of us have been to America before and we are both really excited about it”, Sarah said.

Clifford Baker was brought up locally and started to ride when he was 10 years old.  “I had an ankle injury and was told that riding would be good for it.  None of my family rode, but there was a riding school just down the road and I got hooked.  I used to come to Pony Club Camp here at Wincanton Racecourse, and now it is our local track”, he said.

December 2005

ROYAL CZARINA IN TOP FORM WITH ACTIMUNE

 With the National Hunt season getting into full swing, and point-to-point meetings getting under way next month, there are many horses in training that are reaching the peak of fitness.  Increased work, travelling and more time spent in the stable at this time of year all leave horses vulnerable to infection that can plague their training progress.  Most trainers will take some precautions to safeguard their horse’s wellbeing and a good safety measure is to add Actimune to their daily feed to provide support to the immune system and thus help protect against viral and bacterial infection.

Renowned point-to-point trainer, John Dufosee, put Royal Czarina on Actimune last season and is impressed with the results.  “I put all the horses in the yard on Actimune last season, and none of them suffered any infection during the season”, he said.  The 8 year old Royal Czarina ran 10 times during 2005, winning 3 and only finishing outside the first 4 twice to become the leading point-to-pointer in the Blackmore & Sparkford Vale country in 2005.  Owner, Justin Myscough-Walker, said, “She took her races remarkably well, always bouncing within 2/3 days of her races.  Also she kept her condition throughout the season.  I think feeding her on Actimune played a large part in this.” 

Royal Czarina is now in foal to the promising young NH sire, Pasternak, but Actimune will continue to play a part in her wellbeing, and that of her foal.

As the 2005/2006 National Hunt racing season gets underway, Sean and Anita Cusack are still enjoying the rewards of last year’s racing.  They could not believe their luck when trainer, Alan King, nominated them to receive the Actimune Wincanton Championship prize, a trip to the Colonial Cup in South Carolina USA this autumn. 

The Actimune Wincanton US-Bred Championship will again take place in association with Wincanton Racecourse, allocating points to winning horses with American breeding.  Sponsors, American Thoroughbred Products Ltd, designed the competition as a way of rewarding those who work behind the scenes in racing.  “The stable staff who look after the horses are a key part of their success on the racecourse, but they often miss out on the limelight”, explained Managing Director, Graham Cotton.  “I wanted to do something that would reward them so we thought up this competition where the winning trainer would nominate a deserving member of staff to receive the prize”. 

Last season’s winning horse was the aptly named Handy Money, trained by Alan King.  “Sean and Anita have worked with me as Head Lad and Travelling Head Girl for the last 5 years and they are invaluable.  The competition is a great incentive for us all and they really deserve the prize – I only hope we are not too busy on the weekend they are away!” said Alan.

Sean and Anita are off to see America’s premier steeplechase, the Colonial Cup held in Camden, South Carolina in November.  The trip, arranged in cooperation with The Carolina Cup Racing Association and US Airways, will include special guest hospitality and grandstand seats to see the race as well as flights and accommodation.  “We would not normally be able to take time off at this time of year so it will be great to get a break in the middle of the season”, says Anita.  “We are really looking forward to going to a big race meeting in America, and seeing how it compares with Cheltenham or the Grand National”.

Wincanton Racecourse will again be hosting the Actimune US-Bred Championship during the 2005/2006 NH season.  Commercial Executive, Pam Wills, said “The competition is a good incentive for trainers to run their horses at Wincanton and we are delighted that the prize goes to a deserving member of their staff.  We are looking forward to a good season’s racing and I am sure that plenty of US-Bred horses will feature among the winners”.

American Thoroughbred Products Ltd, a Wiltshire based company specialising in feed supplements for performance horses, sponsors the Actimune Wincanton US-Bred Championship.  Actimune, is a feed supplement that helps to support the immune system, assisting horses to fight infection.  For more information, contact American Thoroughbred Products on 01985 844589 or visit www.horsecare.net.

Handy Money, trained by Alan King, is well named as the winner of the inaugural Actimune US-Bred Championship at Wincanton.  The championship, sponsored by Wiltshire based American Thoroughbred Products Ltd, is a points based competition for National Hunt horses with an American registered sire or dam that have run at Wincanton in the 2004/2005 season.   Alan King received the Winner’s certificate from Mr Graham Cotton, MD of American Thoroughbred Products Ltd, at the last Wincanton evening meeting this season.

The championship saw over 80 eligible horses accumulating points and 27 race winners.  Handy Money, by Imperial Frontier (USA) – Cryptic Gold (Glint of Gold) leapt into the lead with wins on 10^th and 24^th March, equalling the total of Runner Bean, by Henbit (USA) – Bean Alainn (Candy Cane), who won on 18^th November and 17^th April, trained by Richard Lee.  However Alan King takes the award by training the most point scoring horses in the tiebreak.

The Actimune US-Bred Championship is designed to reward hard working stable staff and Alan King will nominate a deserving employee as the recipient of the prize.  The winners will fly to South Carolina for the Colonial Cup in November 2005, where they will enjoy grandstand seats and hospitality at one of America’s premier steeplechase meetings.  The winning yard and runner up will also receive a generous amount of Actimune supplement from the sponsors.

Dorset based trainer, Mr Richard Barber, recently accepted the 2004 Actimune American Bred Point to Point Championship prize for Lord Of The Mist on behalf of the owner, Mr Peter Maltby.  Mr Graham Cotton, Managing Director of the sponsors, American Thoroughbred Products Ltd, made the award.  Lord Of The Mist was trained by Richard Barber at Beaminster to win the points Championship in the Wessex area for eligible horses with an American registered sire or dam.  An outstanding winner, Lord Of The Mist collected 48 points at race meetings in the Wessex Area, including wins in the West Somerset & Minehead Harriers Restricted, The Taunton Vale Confined and the Cotley Countryside Alliance Club Members for 10 year olds and up.  Rounding off a consistent season under jockey Nick Williams, Lord Of The Mist accumulated more wins and places than any other American bred horse within the area to clinch the title.Lord Of The Mist, by Mister Lord (USA) out of Brogeen View (Kambalda), won five races and was second twice during the 2004 season, also earning him equal fourth in the Horse & Hound Trophy and third in the Wessex Owners Competition for owner, Peter Maltby. 

The Actimune US-Bred Championship got off to a good start at Wincanton recently, with a number of eligible horses winning points. The Championship is a new points competition for National Hunt horses running at Wincanton Racecourse during the 2004/05 season. The winning trainer will nominate a worthy member of staff to receive a wonderful trip for two to one of America’s most prestigious jump races, the Colonial Cup.

The Championship is designed to reward the hard working stable staff and at the end of the season, the trainer of the horse with the most points will be asked to nominate a deserving employee as the recipient of the prize. The winners will then fly to South Carolina for the Colonial Cup in November 2005, where they will enjoy Grandstand seats and hospitality.
The season started at Wincanton on 7th October with a good showing of American bred horses on the racecard. Several managed to accumulate points towards the Championship with What You Know trained by Mrs D A Hamer being the first to score with 3 points for third in the first race. The first winner to score came in the third with Palouse, trained by R H Buckler, taking an easy victory and 12 points in the Championship.

“This sounds like a great championship. It is a worthwhile prize that will reward some of the hard work that goes on behind the scenes and it is an incentive for us. Palouse likes the fast ground and this will certainly encourage us to run him again at Wincanton,” said Mr Buckler
A further flurry of activity at the Wincanton Charity Raceday on 24th October saw more points winners appear on the championship table.

American Thoroughbred Products Ltd, a local company specialising in feed supplements for performance horses, sponsors the Actimune US-Bred Championship. Their product, Actimune, is a feed supplement that helps to support the immune system, assisting horses to fight infection.

For more information, contact American Thoroughbred Products on 01985 844589

Bradford on Avon based Dan Hammond rode Florentin to clinch the inaugural GLC5500 Medium Dressage Championship at West Wilts Equestrian Centre recently.  The Championship is the culmination of a new series sponsored by American Thoroughbred Products Ltd, based in Kilmington, Wiltshire.  Fourteen horses contested the Final having qualified in the preliminary classes held throughout the spring.  Dan and Florentin came out on top in the Final earning an excellent score of 71.7% with the 7 year old, Westfalian, Florentin, owned by Gloria Robeson. 

Dan commented, “I am delighted with the way he went.  This is his first competition since we won the Winter Championships and he just keeps getting better.  I started riding the horse when Gloria acquired him as a three year old, so having produced the horse from scratch is very satisfying”. 

The pair has had an illustrious career to date, having been South West Regional Novice Champion in 2001 and then National Elementary Champion at the Winter Championships in April this year.    As winners of the GLC5500 Medium Dressage Championships, Dan takes home a generous supply of GLC5500 joint supplement as well as rosettes and prize money.  “The feed supplement will be very useful for our 11 year old dressage horse to ease his joints and keep him supple” said Dan.

A very close second place went to Alice Wilson riding Equilibra Niky, with 71.4%, with Clare Self riding Whitehall Napoleon, Lotte Christensen-Webster on Maximillian Medley, Mary Skelly on Next Contender and Jo Hadfield on Atticus all sharing third place on equal scores of 67.5%.

“We are delighted that American Thoroughbred Products have decided to sponsor this series and final at West Wilts” said Lindsey Rodwell, proprietor of the equestrian centre.  “Sponsorship is a great help in staging these classes and I am sure that GLC5500 will prove popular with our riders”.